Abstract
Many pollen researchers came to Japan to participate in the joint conferences of the International Palynological Congress (IPC) and the International Palaeobotanical Congress (IPC / IOPC 2012)). The conference was a very fruitful meeting. From South Korea, there were reports of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen becoming a significant allergen in Korea. In Europe recent achievements of HIALINE (Health Impact of Airborne Allergen Network) research projects were reported. And, from Japan, the value of male sterility data for C. japonica was discussed as a tool for pollen emission prevention from Japanese artificial forests. The potential significance of an automated pollen monitor for forecasting pollen scattering of C. japonica was also reported. The international meeting was very friendly and gave ample opportunity to discuss future international collaborative research. We noted, however, that there are very few departments in Japanese universities and institutes majoring in aerobiology. Aerobiological studies provide not only a public pollen information service, but also supply information to medicine, pharmacy, public health, forestry, engineering and environmental science with, not only an accumulation of past data but also, based on these data, the building of predictive models. We sincerely hope that the success of this international joint meeting in Japan has, and will provide, the opportunity for both professionals and the general public to learn more about aerobiology, palynology and related academic fields in a worldwide context.
